Machine for manufacturing compressed explosive-powder pellets.



. N m En. L E l, E u TS y 6 P B e U D u A W H D m n E E o m w fw Q T m Wu. M L. L PM I Xw E2. D2. :Wu www ESA IED VRR APH DMF Lwm T mm mm wu Q 0 A F U r N A M .U. am R 0 M, f 47 E L. n.. H n H N HU 0 m N @n fm 7 A i Leyshon Davies.

, ./f. l i

No. 767,872. y PATENTED AUG; 16,1904.

- L. DAVIBS. i MACHINE PoR MANUFACTURING GOMPRNSSED BXPLOSIVE POWDER PELLBTS.

APILIOATION -FILED APB.. 22. 1904.

H0 IODEL. v 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 767,872. PATENTED AUG. 16, 1904.

L. DAVIES.

APPLICATION FILED APB. 22, 1904.

l0 IODBL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

@OQOOGOO OOQOOGCVJS I 00000000 l OOO 77m65.962s: jnyeju'0f-.

Leyshon Davies. ff? .9J/mf i' f\ ha? .Ja/y. l

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 U/6111501' Leyshon D avles PATENTED AUG. 16, 1904 L. DAvIEs. MACHINE PoR MANUFACTURING GOMPRESSBD EXPLOSIVE POWDER PBLLBTS APPLICATION FILED APB.. 22, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

. nii/messes.

No.y 767,872.

, UNITED STATES lPatented lAuguet 1e, 1904.

PATENT oet-tee.

POWDER COMPANY,

ADELAWARE.

OF YORK, .PENNSYLVANIA, A. CORPORATION OF l fr MACHINE ron. MANUFACTURING CoNPREssED ExPLoslvE-.PownER PEELLETS.

. srEeIFIcArIoN forming pertef `Lettere Patent Ne. 767,872, dated August 1e, 1904. f

' Aepueetien sied Apen 2z, 1904. seriei No. 204,314. (ne model.)

To all whom it indy concerw: Be it known that I, LEYsHoN DAvIEs, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at York, in the county of York and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements inMachines for the Manufacture of Compressed Explosive-Powder Pell lets. of which thefollowing isa specification.

lMy invention relates to machines for the manufacture of compressed explosive-powder pellets; and the object thereof is to provide a machine which is particularly simple in construction and highly eiii'cientin loperation and in which the number of manual operations necessary for the production of the pellets is reduced to' a minimum. e

To this end the invention includes the combination and arrangement of component parts,

' as will b e hereinafter described, and particution of the machine.

larly pointed out in the claims.

While the invention is susceptible of .various embodiments, the accompanying drawings illustrate and I shall hereinafter describe in connection therewith what is now conceived to be a preferred exemplication ofthe same.

In vthe drawings,.Figure 1 is a side eleva- Fig. 2 is a similar view with parts in vertical sectional elevation. Fig.

l 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line a) m, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the pellet-carrier. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional' View of the same. Fig.

-6 is a vertical sectional View, on anl enlarged scale, of the hopper and coacting parts. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the lower compressingplungers and associated fparts. Fig. 8 is a perspective View of the product manufactured yby the machine, and Fig.' 9 is a longitudinal sectional lview ofthe carrier compressing-disks. AThe invention includes generally a hopper for i receiving the explosive'- powder inbulk for the upper form, a plurality'fof measuring-tubes asso` ciated therewith designed at a single operation to measure out a plurality of` portions orr charges ofpowder eachof a l.predeterminedE` value, a mold-block havinga plurality of moldcavities therein each designed to receive one .of the chargesa transferring-tray having cavivfties therein corresponding to those in the mold-block' and designed to receive the charges from the measuring-tubes and transfer the 4same to -the mold-block, a pair of compressing pins or plungers working in4 each moldcavity to compress the charge therein, compressing devices designed to be interposed between the pins or plungers and the powder` and to have movement independently of the formenfmeans for removing all of said de.- vicesfrom and placing the same in operative positions without necessitating the independent positioning of the same, and means for removing the completed 1compressed powder v blocks or pellets.

The hopper for receiving the powder in bulk is designated by 1 and is suitably supported at one end onparallel rails 2 2, constituting a part of a frame 3. A plurality of measuringtubes 4 are arranged below the hopper 1, into which the powder from the latter is discharged' and measured olf into charges or portions of any other suitable means for adjusting lthe upper and lower sections of the tubes in relation to'each other'may be employed.

The discharge from the ho pper into'the tubes l 4is controlled by a suitable slide 10,' and the discharge from the tubes is controlled bya slide v11, movable in suitable ways in the support 7. i o

The transferring-tray 12 is movable along the rails 2 2, is provided with vertical openings or cavities 1 3, extending through `the ably resting upon the face of the tray 12 and providing a rest for the under face of the support 7 intermediate of its side edges, where the same issupported by the screws 9. Thus the central portion of the support is prevented from sagging under the weight of the powv der borne thereby, and the lengths of all the tubes 4 are maintained uniform, so that there is no variation whatever in the values of the charges measured off by any of the tubes. As varying thicknesses of filler-blocks '14 are used in the machine to provide for the adjustments of the support 7 in varying l'the capace ity of the tubes 4 and as it is not convenient to provide a sufficient number of fillers of such graduated thicknesses as to meet all adjustments that may be made, it has been found desirable to provide a plurality of liners or thin filler-plates 142, which are designed to be inserted between the filler-blocks 14vand the support 7. These plates are provided with openings correspondingly spaced to the opening 13 and designed to register with the latter and the'tubes 4.

To fill the openings 13 with the charges of powder, the tray 12 is moved beneath the support 7 while all ofthe slides 10, 11, and 14 occupy their inward or closed positions. The slide 10 is first withdrawn, which permits the tubes 4 to fill with powder from the hopper, whereupon said slide is returned to its initial. position. The slide 11 is then withdrawn, which permits the powder in the tubes to discharge into the registering openings in the transferring-tray, and the latter i-s then moved along the rails 2 2 to a position above the mold-block.

The mold-block 15 is preferably supported 'centrally of the lengths of the rails 2 2 in any desirable manner and is provided with a plurality of openings or cavities 16, extending entirely through the same and corresponding in relative location in reference to one another to the relative positions of the openings 13 in lthe transferring-tray. In the present exemplification of my invention the mold-block is shown as removably supported between upper and lower collars 17, adjustably secured `upon vertical `posts 18, constituting a part of the machine-frame.

A set of compressing plungers or pins is `arranged below the mold-block 15and is movable toward and from the same byany suitable means, as a hydraulic press, and a corresponding set of plungers or pins is-arranged above the mold-block and is also movable towardand from the same by any suitable means, as a hydraulic press. The pins of each 'the lower set of set are arranged to register with the openings 16 and are designed to move lengthwise therein for compressing the powder discharged thereintolfrom the tray 12 into hard blocks or pellets. Each of the openings 16 is provided with a removable brass lining 19, and the cavity or opening provided thereby is preferably of slightly greater diameter than the diameter of the compressing pins or plungers coacting with the same. Each lower pin or plunger 19 is provided with-a tapering aziial extension or needle 20, while the upper pins are provided with corresponding axial openings 21 for the accommodation of the same. In order to provide each pin or plunger i with a compressing-surface thatmay readily yield to accommodate itself to the powder under compression and prevent the caking of the powder thereon, a disk 22 is associated with the endl of the sameand is of a diameter to accurately lit the opening 16, in `which the same works. The disks 22, associated with the pins 19,v are retained in operative positions in reference thereto by being threadedl upon the extensions or needles 20, while the disks associated with the upper pins 23 must be placed in operative position and removed therefrom as each batch of pellets is made. An important advantage subserved by the provision of the disks 22, the lining 19, and the construction ofthe pins of less diameter than the openings 16 or bores of the linings 19 is that all wear incident to this part of the machine during the operation thereof is borne by such parts as may be readily replaced at a small cost, while the larger and more expensive parts of'. the machine, which might otherwise have to bear the wear incident to the coaction of the parts in the compressing of the pellets, is thus effectually protected.

As will be understood, the transferring-tray 12 after the openings 13 have been filled with powder from the tubes 4 is moved along the rails 2 2 to a yposition above the mold-block 15, and the slide 14 is then withdrawn, which permits the contents ofthe openings 13 to fall into the mold-cavities 16. At this time lower lends of the cavity 16, so that the disks 22, carried by said pins, close the lower ends of the cavities. The upper Washers 22 are then placed in position vprevious to the descent of the upper pins 23. In order to facilitate the operation of placing the upper disks in position, means have been provided for ar- "ranging all of the same in their proper place simultaneously and for simultaneously removing the same Without altering or changing their relative relation to'one another. This means preferably includes a tray 24, movable along the rails 2 2 and having a plurality of I'pockets 25 therein corresponding in number and relative location to the cavity 16. The tray 24 is provided with a -slide 26, designed to'act as a pick-up for the washers and as a pins 19 is just within the bottom to all the pockets .25, as will be hereinafterdescribed. ',llie tray 24, with the slidem26 occupying its inward position and with a washer in each pocket 25, is moved above the mold-block 15, and when in proper position the slide QGis withdrawn, which permits the.washers to drop from the pockets .25 into place at rest upon the top of the powder in theregister-ing cavities 1G. ",l`he tray 24 is then retracted and the two sets of pins 1) 2?- fo reed toward each other to compress the powder in lthe cavities 16 into hard blocks or pellets having axial openings through the same, the latter being formed by the needles S20.

Atthe end of the com pressing operation the upper set of pins E23 is withdrawn, and the tray 24 is again moved intoposition above the mold-block. The lower pins 1S) are then advanced to push the upper disks justala'ive the surface of the moldl lock, the slide .26 being withdrawn at this time. lhe slide is then pushed in, and by reason of a beveled leading edge .27 it readily passes beneath the disks and forces the same into pockets .25 and then acts to close the bottom of said pockets. 'lhe tray is thereupon removed and the disks retained in position to be quickly replaexnl after the mold-block has been again lilled with the charges to be compressed.

After the tray E24 .has been moved from over the mold-block the lower set of pins l?) is further advanced to push the pellets entirely out of the cavities 16, and any invention contemplates means for lirmly engaging the pellets at this time, supporting the same while the lower pins are retracted, and thereupon removing the pellets to a suitable receivingreeeptacle tlierefm.

ll`he present exemplitication of my invention illustrates this means embodied in a carrier E28, which includes two sections .29 3l), movable in relation to each other and each Vcomprising a substantially rigid plate ill, having a plurality of openings 3&2, corresponding in relative location to the openings 1G, but of greater diameters than the same, and a lining :53. of flexible or yielding material` provided with alining openings 2H of less diameters than the pellets. After the tray .24 has been shifted from overthe mold-block` carrying with it the upper set of compressing-disks, the carrier..28 is moved into a position above the mold-block, and the lower set of plungers is then further advanced to push the pellets out of the mold-cavities and through the alining openings 3&2 34 in the sections of the carrier 28. At'this time the sections 2S) 30 are-so relatively arranged that the openings therein are in alinement. After the carrier .28 has been moved into position,as described, and the pellets pushed through the openings B2 34 the sections` 2S) B() are given a movement relative to each other, preferably through the intermediary of a hand-screw 35, held against longitudinal movement in' oncof the sections and having such movement in the other section, so that the pellets will be lirmly gripped by said sections, will'be supported while the pins 19' are being retracted,-aml can thereafter be removed from above the mold-block by withdrawing the carrier .28. After the latter is withdrawn from above the moldblock it is preferably moved to a position above a suitable receiving-receptiuzle 36 for the pellets and the sections 29 3() again moved relative to each other to bring the openings 32 34 of said sections into alinement, whereupon the pellets can be readily discharged from the carrier into the reeeving-receptacle therefor. y

'lhe construction and operation of my invention will be readily understood upon reference to the foregoing description and accompanying drawings, and it will be appreciated that the parts and tannbinations recited may be varied within a. wide range without departing from the spiritaml scope thereof.

l-laving thus described my invention, what l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- l. ln a machine for nnlnufacturing explo- `sive-powder pellets and in cmnbimttion, a mold-block haviuga plurality of mold-cavities therein, compressing-plangers coactingf therewith, a hopper forlu'ilding the powder m bulk form, means below the hopper for simultaneously measuring oll' a. plurality of charges of `predetcrmined values, a transferring-tray movable from a position below the measuring devices to a position above the niold-l' locl said tray having receiving-openings corresponding in number and relative positions to the mold-cavities designed to receive the measured-ell' charges and to discharge the same,V

into the mold-cavities, substantially as described.

.2. ln a machine for manul'aeturing explosive-powder pellets and in combination, a mold-block havingn plurality ol' mold-cavities therein` compressing-plungers coacting therewith,.a hopper for holding the powder in bulk form, means for simultaneously measuring oll' a plurality of charges, a transferring-tray movable from a position below the measuring means to a position above the mold-block, said tray having receiving-openings therein corresponding in number and relative relation to the mold-cavities and designed to receive the measured charges, and a shiftable part designed to support the ehargesin the tray in one position and to be moved intoa second position for discharging the charges in the tray into the mold-block, substantially as described.

3. 1n a machine for mamifaeturing explosive-powder. pellets and in comliiination, a mold-block havingaplurality of mold-ciwities thereiIncompressing-plangers eoacting therewith, a hopper for holding the powder in bulk form, means for simultaneously measuring off IOO IIO

a plurality `ot`- charges` movable from av position below lthe measuring means toa. position above the mold-block, said tray having recciving-openings therein corre- -sponding in number. and relative relation to themold-cavitiesand designed toreceivc the scribed.

4. A1n a machine for manufacturing explosive-powder pellets and in combination` a mold-block liav-ing a plurality ot' incid-cavities therein, coinpressing-plungers coacting therewith,ahop1.ier for holdingthe powder in bulk form, means for simultaneously ineasu'ringolil a pluralityot' charges. a transferring-tray movalile from a position below the n'ieasuring means to a position above the mold-block, said triiy liiiving i'eceiving-opeiiings therein corresponding in number and relative ielation to the mold-cavities and designed to receive the measured charges. and ii slide movable iii the tray and providinga bottoni for all of the openings inthe latter` substantially as described.

5. ln a machine. for the iiiiiiiutactnreof explosive-piiwdei' pellets and in combination. a iiiold-block having a plurality ot' niold-ciwities therein` means for lilliiig the cavities with the material to be compressed` two sets ot' conipi'essing-plangers movable towiird each other and arranged on opposite sides ot' the moldblock, means for actiiiitiiig the plungers, and compressing-surfaces movable independently of the plnngers and associateil with the ends thereof, substantially as described.

6. ln a machine for the inaiintaeture ot' explosive-powder pellets and in (ainibination` ii mold-block liavingii plurality ot' mold-cavities therein, iiieiins for lillingI the cavities with the ii'iaterial to be compressed` two sets ol' coinpressing-pliiiigers movable toward each other -andarraiiged on opposite sides ot' the moldbloek, means for actuating the plungers, and disks constituting the contacting surfaces associated with the ends ot' the plungers und having independent tilting movement in ref erenee to said ends ol the latter. substantially as described.

7. ln a machine for the iiiaiiut'aeture otexplosive-powder pellets and in combination, a meld-block havinga pliiriility of iiiold-ciivities therein. means for lilling the cavities with the `niaterial to be compressed, two sets of coinpressing-plungers iiioviible toward each other and arranged on opposite sides of the moldblock, means t'oi actuating the plungcrs, a contacting disk associated with each of the u pper phingers and designed to be interposed between the ends ot' the sinne and the material iii the mold-cavities entered thereby, and means:foi'.siniu|taneoiisly positioning all ot' said disks beneath the plungers, substantially :1s-described.

'8. In a machine for the manufacture of explosive-powderI pellets and in combination, a

a transferringtray mold'fblock having a plurality of` mold-cavities therein, means foi-.tilling the cavities with the material to be compressed, two sets 'ot' comiiiressing-plungers movable toward cach other and'arranged on opposite sides of the moldblock, meansl for actuating the i'ilungers, a contacting disk associated with each of tlieu'pper plungers and designetil to be interposed between the ends ot' the saine and the material iii the mold-.cavities entered thereby, and means t'or simultaneously removing all of the disks without changing their relative positions and for replacing the same, substantially as described.

9. lln a machine for the manufacture of exi'ilosive-powder pellets and in combination, a mold-block luivinga pluriilityot' iiiold-cavities therein, menus for lilliiig the cavities with the material to be compressed, twosets of conipressiiig-plungers movable toward each other and arranged on opposite sides ot' the moldblock, means l'or actuating the plungers, ay contacting disk associated with each of the upper plungers and designed to be interposed between the ends ot' the sinne and the material in the iiiohl-ca\f'ities` entered thereby. and a carrier having pockets positioned to register with the mold-cavitiesand a movable support designed to provide a bottom for said pockets, Said ciirrier coactiug with the upper disks for simultaneously removing all ot' the same from their positions beneath the upper plungers and for replaciiig the saine, substantially as described.

l0. ln a machine lor the manufacture of explosive-powder pellets and in combination. a iiiold-block hariiiga plurality of mold-cavities therein, means t'orlilliiig the cavitics'witli the material to be compressed, two sets ot' conipressing-plungeis movable towiird each other and arranged on opposite sides ot` the moldblock, means t'or actuating the plungcrs, a contacting disk associated with euch ot' the upper plungers and designed to be interposed between the ends ot' the sinne and the material in the mold -cavities entered thereby, and means for simultaneously positioning all of the disks comprising a carrier and a movable pick-iip device associated with the carrier, substantially as describeil.

11. In a machine for iiianutactui'ing explosive-powder pellets and in coinbinatioiua moldbloek having a plurality ot' iiiold-cavities` therein, means for lilling the cavities with the material to be compressed, two sets ot' compressing-plungers` working in the cavities, said plungers being ot' less diameters than the cavities in which the same work,cmiipressingdisks associated with the plungers ot' substantially the saine diameters as said iiiold-eavities, and means` for simultaneously positioning all ot' the disks associated with one set of phiiigers between the compression ot' successive batches ot' pellets, substantially as described.

12. 1n a machine for nianiit'acturing pellets lOO llO

or compressed blocks of explosive powder and in combination, a frame including parallel v length of the rails having a plurality of moldrails,'a mold-block located intermediate ofthe cavities therein, a hopper arrangedabove the 'rails at one side of the mold-block, measuring devices arranged below the hopper, a transferring-tray movable along the rails from a position below the measuring devices to a position above the mold-block, a set of compressing-plungers arranged above the moldblock and movable toward the same, a second l set of compressing-plungers arranged below 5 the mold-block andlmovable toward the same,

'said lower plungers having axial extensions,

an independent contacting disk threaded on` each axial extension, a corresponding disk associated with each of the upper plu ngers. a carrier for simultaneously placing all of the disks associated with the upper plungers in position and removing the same while maintaining `the relative relation thereof, said l carrier being movable along said rails, and a carrier for the pellets alsomovable along the rails and occupying a position to the rear of the first carrier` substantially as described.'

13. In a machine for the manufacture of explosive-powder pellets and in combination, a frame including parallel rails` a mold-block located between the same and having a plurality of mold-cavities therein, compressing.

pl ngers coacting with` the cavities, a hopper located abovethe rails to one side of the moldblock, a transferring-tray' having receivingopenings therein and being movable along the i rails from a position below the hopper to a position above the mold-block, measuringtubes located below the hopper and above 'the .receiving position' of the transferring-A tray, said tubes each'comprising telescopic sections, a movable support for the lower sections of the tube, and a filler interposed between said support andthe tray having passage-ways between the same, substantially as described.

14. In a machine" for' the, manufacture of explosive-powdei` pellets and in combination, a frame includingparallel rails, a mold-block located betweenthe same and having a plui'ality of mold-cavities therein, compressingplungers coacting with the cavitiesa hopper located above the rails to one side ofthe mold- 'block, a transferring-tray having receivingopenings therein and being movable along the rails fromthe position below the hopper to a position above the moldblock, measuring- Y tubes located below the hopper and the receiving position of the transferring-tray, said i tubes each comprising telescopic sections,` a

movable `support for the lower sections of the tube, and a filler-block and filler-plates inter'- posed between said support and the tray and havingv passage-Ways through the same, Vsub-- stantially as described.

15. In a machine for the manufacture of explosive-powder pellets and in combination, a frame, a mold-block having a plurality of mold-cavities therein.' means for filling the latter with the material to be' compressed, a lower and an upper set of compressing-plungers,said lower set acting to move the compressed pellets from the mold-cavities to a position above the mold-block, and means for gripping the pellets and transferring them from said position, substantially as described. 16. In amachine for. the manufacture of explosive-powder pellets and in -combination,

a frame, a mold-block having a plurality of mold-cavities thereimmeans for filling the latter with the material to be compressed, a lower and an upper setof compressing-plungers, said lower set acting to move the comthe pellets including sections movable relativeto each other and provided With-grippingsurfaces for engaging the pel-lets, substantially asdescribed.- r

18. In a machine for the manufacture of explosive-powder pellets and in combination, a frame, a mold-block having a plurality of mold-cavities therein, means for filling the latter with the material t`o be compressed, a

lower and an upper set of compressingplun a I gers, said lower set acting to move the compressed pellets fromthe mold-cavities to a position above the mold-block, and a carrier for` the pellets having yielding gripping-surfaces for engaging the same, substantially as described.

19. In a machine for the manufacture of` explosive-powder pellets and in combination,

a frame, amold-block having a plurality of mold-cavities therein, means for filling the latter with the material to be compressed, a

`lower and an upper set of compressing-plungers, said lower .set acting to move the compressed pellets from the mold-cavitles to a po sition above the mold-block, and a `carrler forthe pellets comprising superimposed sections,

each including a rigid and a yieldingplate 1 having openings therein arranged in substantially the same relative positions as the openings in themold-block, and means for mov- .f

ing the sections relative to each other, Substantially as described. 20. In a 'machine for the manufacture of explosive-powder pellets and in combination, a frame, a mold-block having a plurality of mold-cavities therein` means for filling the latter with the material to l e compressed, a lower and an upper set of compressing-plumgers, said lower set acting to move the compressed pellets from the mold-cavities to a position above the mold-block, and a carrier for the pellets comprising superimposed sections each including a rigid and a yielding plate having openings therein arrangedin substantially the same relative positions as the openings in the mold-block, and means for moving the sections at right angles to each other, substantially as described.

21. In a machine for the manufacture of explosive-powder pellets and in combination, a iframe, a mold-block having a plurality of mold-cavities therein, means for'flling the latter with the material to be compressed, a

lower and an upper set 'of compressing-plungers, said lower set acting to move the ooml pressed pellets from the mold-cavities to a p0- sition above the mold-block, and a carrier for the pellets comprising superimposed sections each including a rigid and a yielding plate having pluralities oi' alining openings in the same arranged in su bstantially the same relative positions as the openings in the moldblock, the openings in the respective plates of each section being of dissimilar diameters, and means for moving the sections at right angles to each other, substantially'as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed myname, in the presence of two attesting wit; nesses, at York, in the county of York and State of 1904.

LEYSHON. DAVIES.

Witnesses:

W. I. KoLLER, N. HrSHEARER.

Pennsylvania, this-19th day of April, 3 A 

